Automatic ticket stripper



` April 16,

A. J. JOHNSTON AUTOMATIC TICKET STRIPPEH Filed Dec. 21, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet l Invenfr Ar'fhur J. Johnson b5 Mm April 1s, 1935. A; nJ, JQHNSTON 1,998,320

AUTOMATIC TICKET STRIPPER Im/enTor vAvjlmw J, Johnson bij April 16, 1935.I A. .1. JOHNSTON 1,998,320

AUTOMATIC TICKET STRIPPER Filed Dec. 21, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3v y His A'rforneg.

April 16, 193s. A. J. JoHNsfoN 1,998,320

AUTOMATIC `TICKET STRIPPER Filed Deo. 21, 1952 4 sheetsfshqet 4 Invenfor Ar-Thur J. Johns'ron,

bg Mue/e His A'orneg.

.K ing machines.

Patented Apr. 16, 1935v PATENT OFFICE;

n 1,998,320 j AUTOMATIC TICKET STRIPPER Arthur J. Johnston, Alden, Pa., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application December 21, 1932, Serial No. 648,181

32 claims.

The present invention relates to ticket cancel- The primary object of the invention is to kprovide animproved ticketcanceling machine, well adapted for use in theatres, wherein each ticket dropped into the machine will be cancelled, anda portion of the ticket issued to the patron as a receipt, and wherein the tickets will' be counted on a registering mechanism.

For a consideration of what I believe tobe novel and my invention, attention is directed to the accompanying description and the claims appended thereto.

In the drawings, Fig. l is a side view, partly in section, of a ticket canceling machine embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective View taken from the front of the machine showing the framework kand operating mechanism supported thereby; Fig. 3 is a detail perspective View of the ticket canceling rollers and delivering mechanism; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a conveyor belt; Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view; Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the operating mechanism; Fig. '7 is an end view of a modified form of ticket canceling and delivering mecha-y nism; and Figs. 8, 9 and l0 are views of modifications of certain parts of the ticket canceling machine shown in Figs. 1 to 6. The machine generally comprises a hopper into fwhich the tickets are dropped, conveying means for conveying the tickets, one at a; time, to the canceling rolls, canceling rolls which cut each ticket into a plurality of pieces, means whereby one of the pieces is issued to the patron as a receipt, the other piece or pieces being retained in the machine, and means for counting the tickets as they pass through the machine.

The mechanism of the machine is supported by a rectangular framework built up from angle irons. It comprises a rectangular bottom frame I comprising four angle irons joined together at 'the corners by suitable means, such as bywelding, rectangular top frame 2 comprising four angle irons suitably joined together at the corners, and four upright angle irons 3 located be- "y tween the corners of frames land 2 and supporting them in spaced relation to each other. The framework is supported on a rectangular base frame 4 comprising four angle irons joined to,

,ge-ther at the corners. Since the machine maybe located often on oors which are sloping, means are provided whereby it may be adjusted to ylevel it. To this end, base frame c'. issupported at two corners, in the present instance the two front corners, on rollers 6 and at the other two corners on cams 'I which may be turned to tilt the ma- -block r|2Y fixed to base frame 4.

(ci. 23a-ps) chine in one plane. Cams 1 are carried by a. shaft 8 journaled in frame 4 and on which is a worm wheel 9 with which meshes a worm l0 carried by a shaft which is pivoted in a bearing On the end of the shaft is'a knurled button I3 for turning the shaft. Bottom frame I is supported onY base frame 4 on one side by two spaced hinges I4 and on the other side by a threaded rod I5 adjustably vmounted in an ear I6 on bottom frame I. 'On the upperV end ofjrod I5 is a knurled button I1 for turning the rod. By adjusting cams 1, the machine as a whole may be leveled in a plane through the machine from front to back. By adjustingrrod I5, the framework which carries the mechanism can be adjusted in a transverse plane. f f The mechanism of the machine is built as a unitary structure adapted to be attached to or detached from the framework as ak unit. It comprises two side plates 20 and 2| fastened together in spaced relation to each other and suitably supported on the framework. In the present instance, plates 20 and 2| are supported at the lower front corners by a post 22 lhaving a foot 23 at its lower end which rests on bottom frame I and at the upper rear corner by a lug 24 which rests on top frame 2. Foot 23 and lug 24 may be attached to the bottom and top frames by suitable bolts 25. The framework is covered by a rectangular housing 26 which fits over it and is supported on top frame 2 by brackets 21 fastened ythereto by bolts 28. The upper open end of housingv 2lil is "closed by a top 29 having a hopper or receiver Vibrating trough 35 has'a downwardly .inclined bottom wall 31 and side walls 38 and 39 which at their outer edges are provided with outwardly ared wings 38B and 39a located' directlyvunderr `chute 33. The trough is supported by a bracket 40 pivoted to side plates 2| and 22 as is indicated r at 4 g Pivotally connected to bracket 40'is one end fof a shaker rod 42, the other end of which is provided with a strap43 which surrounds an eccentrick 44 fixed on a shaft 45. `Shaft 45 is driven by an electricmotor 46 supported on a bracket 41 attached to side plates Ell and 2l. When motor 45 is ruiming, trough is vibrated through the intermediary of eccentric Fifi and rod At its bottom, trough is of a width slightly greater than the width of the tickets the machine is intended to handle. The sloping side wings and 3S@ coupled with the vibration of the trough serve to cause tickets which drop from chute 33 on to trough 35 to be turned so as to extend longitudinally of the trough and to drop oft the trough on to a conveyor located directly beneath the trough. In Fig. 6, A indicates a ticket dropping into the trough.

rPhe conveyor comprises an endless belt 4S having a bottom wall or" a width equal substantially to the width of the tickets to be carried and sloping side walls Q9. It may be constructed as shown more particularly in Fig. 5 wherein the bottom wall is shown as comprising a strip of flexible material, such as leather, for example, to the underside of which are riveted a plurality of relatively thin metal cross strips 5:. which at their ends are bent upwardly to orrn side walls e9. This arrangement permits the belt to bend readily. The endless belt is arranged to run on two spaced rollers 5i and 52 supported adjacent to the outer side or plate 2li. Roller 5l is rotatably mounted on a stationary shaftI 53 supported by plates 2S and 2l, the roller being provided preferably with ball bearings. Roller is rotatably mounted on a shaft 52a which is fixed on the upper end of an arin Erl located between plates 2i and and pivotally mounted on a stationary shaft 55 fixed to the plates. Shaft 52 passes through .an elongated slot in plate 2 l. Attached to arrn 54 is a spring 5i' which serves to maintain tension on the endless belt t8. One edge of endless belt 48 runs adjacent to side plates Eil. Adjacent to the other edge is a shield Se (see Fig. 5) which is attached to side plate 20 and extends along the outer edge of the belt throughout substantially its length. On the inside or" shield 45@ and on side plate 2G are guard strips llib behind which the edges of side walls 4S are located.

Extending around roller 52 is a second endless belt 53 of suitable flexible material such as leather. It extends along the upper side of endless beit 8 to a point beyond roller 5I where it passes upwardly between two rollers 53 and Sil. Roller is an idler and is rotatably mounted on a shaft 6| fixed to and projecting from plates 252 and 2l. Roller 6i? is xed on a driven shaft 59. suitably pivoted in bearings in plates 2S and it i. Frein betweenrollers 5S and di), belt 5B upwardly over a roller 63 fixed on a driven shaft thence downwardly over Va tension roller 5S and along the under side of endless belt 63 to roller 52. Endless belt 58 passes around roller 52 on the outside of and in engagement with endless belt 48 and serves as a driving Vrneans for belt d. Tension roller 65 is rotatably mounted on the free end of an arm 66 which at its central portion is carried by a shaft Sl' pivoted in walls 2S and 2i. A spring 68 serves to torce roller 55 against endless belt `53 to keep it tight.

Endless belt 5S is provided with a series or" holes 's spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the length ot the ticket which the machine is intended to cancel. A pin fastened in walls 2S and 2l and carrying a curtain of iiexible metal strips, a brush or the like is provided ehe of the vibrating trough as regards the dii tion of travel of the belt 58 to stop tickets from sliding in downward direction along the belt in case several tickets are thrown onto the belt simultaneously. The curtain thus represents a stop for tickets sliding down the belt On the other hand, this flexible curtain or brush permits the passage of heavier ol "ects, such as mar bles or the like, thrown into hopper. These objects may be discharged through an opening in the bottoni of the outer casing.

Located behind endless belt 5S between rollers "i8 and 53 is a sealed casing 'I0 having an elongated opening 'Il directly beneath belt Sealed casing l is connected by a conduit 'l2 to the suction inlet of a vacuum creating device i3. In the present instance, the vacuum creating device is shown as being a centrifugal blower l driven by an electric motor iii and having a discharge opening 76. When the suction dee vice is running, it serves to create a vacuum in sealed casing 1B.

Adjacent endless belt 58 is another endless belt 'l which runs over rollers 58, lil and 3B and between rollers 5S and Rollers 'i8 and 8B are rotatably mounted on shafts fixed directly in plates and Roller 79 is an idler which serves to keep belt E? tight. It is carried on the .tree end or" an arm l5@ pivoted at its other end in plates 2G and 2l and held against the belt by a. spring i90. Roller i3 is located slightly above endless belt 5B so that the two belts 53 ed il' where directly over each other are located at an angle to each other, the belts coming into engagement where they pass between rollers 5U and GQ. Rollers i213 and @il are located so that after belts and 'il pass between rollers Srl and they diverge. This provides a -/shapcd space Si between the belts in advance rollers 5S and G and a V-shaped space t2 between the belts beyond the rollers 5@ and as regards the direction of travel or" the belts. Space 32 fo`Yi s a separating chamber as explained hereinai er. On the end of shaft 6E adjacent to roller is mounted a circular trimming knife Q3 which serves to trim o the edges of any tickets b g conveyed between. the two belts which project beyond the edges of the belts.

The tickets discharged from trough 3l on to belt 53 are carried along by the belt (the tickets being straightened by the sloping side walls 59) through Vshaped space 8l and between rollers Eil and Sil into the V-shaped space .From this space, the tickets are picked up, one by one, duc to the suction in chamber lll acting on the tckc xi through holes lle, and are carried upward and discharged between roller and an adjacent roller 34 to a stripping and cancelingr f iecha In rig. G, B indicates a ticket being carried upward by belt o8. to rollers 3 and Eng belt 'Il is a hexagonally shaped roller 25 wir in turning, causes the portion of the belt l? pa e ing over it to be vihrated. The purpose of the. is to prevent tickets from stickin'I to belt l1 and being carried upward by it over the roller 8G. Shaft Si?! on which rolle; lid cru-hg lsile S3 are mounted is rotated by gearing 85 which connects it to a shaft 8l which nected by a gearing 88 to shaft spring pressed clutch B9 is arranged in and is adapted to slip in case for any reason the mechanism tends to stall the niotor. ln the instance, the slip clutch is provided by making shaft 8'? in two parts which are connected together by sleeves and having ser ends which engage each other, sleeve used to one part of shaft 8l and sleeve slidably mounted on the other part and Gil into .engagement with sleeve 9| by a. spring 92 arranged between sleeve 90 and a collar 93 fixed on shaft 81. Shaft 81 drivesalso shaft 64 and the shaft on which roller 84 is mounted through `gearing 94 and 95.

The stripping and canceling mechanism for tickets comprises a roller 96 mounted on a shaft 91 anda roller 98 mounted on ashaft 99, the two shafts being geared together by gears |06 and driven from shaft 81 by gearing |0|. Rollers 96 and 98 are. of a `width substantially equal to `that of the tickets to be canceled. Roller 96 is provided with end portions |02 which contact with end portions |03 on roller 98. Between end ribs. |04.

`Above guide roller .plate H2 which directs the central ticket portion, as it is discharged from between rollers 96 portions |03, roller 98 is provided withspaced Between end portions |02, roller 96 is provided. with rings of yspaced projections |05 .in line with the spaces between ribs |04.V The inner edges of portions |02and the edges of the 'adjacent ribs |04 form cutting edges or shares.

directing central piece |06 to opening 3|, there is provided a curved deflecting plate H0 vdirectly above the central portion of roller 96 which serves to catch the forwardedge of the central portion of a ticket 'being carried through between rollers 96 and 98 and deflect such central portion upward Ybetween roller 96 and an adjacent guide roller.

|H which engages and isy driven by roller 68. H is a curved deecting and through opening 3| into tray 32. Deflecting plate ||2 is carried by a strip ||3. For directing the two edge pieces |01 of a ticket into chute |08 there is provided adjacent to surfaces |03 on roller 98 two curved deflecting ngers H4 which serve to catch the forward ends of the edge pieces as they issue from between rollers y96 and 98 and direct such edge piecesv downward into the chute.k Deflectors H0 and H4. may be formed as partof a single strip of'metal H5 suitably supported on yplate and 2| as is indicated at H6 in Fig. l. When aticket passes be- `tween rollers 96 and 98, projections |05, which `fit kbetween ribs |04 serve to produce struck-out yparts or projections H1 inthe central portion yout through door 26a.

. For counting the tickets, I utilize the movenient of rollers 96 andr98 relatively to each other ywhich takes place when a ticket passes between them. Roller 96 has its shaft 91 mounted in a `bearing fixed in plates20 and-,2| so that such yshaft has only rotary motion. Roller 98 has its shaft 99 mounted in a circular bearing housing H8 carried by an arm H9., suitable ballbearings being located between the housing and the shaft.

In Fig. 3

The other end of arm H9 is carried by a shaft |20 pivotally mounted in walls 20 and 2|. Between the upper surface of Varm H9 and a cross piece |2| fixed to plates 20 and 2| is a yielding pad |22, such as a rubber pad, which serves as a spring to press roller 98 yieldin'gly into engagement with roller 96. Connected to arm H9 is a switch actuating arm |23, the free end of which kis providedwith an adjustable pin |24 adapted to engage the movable contact |25 ofV a suitable electric switch |26, such as a vacuum switch. Movable contact |25 is maintained normally in open position by a spring |253. With this arrangement, each time a ticket .passes between rollers 96 and 98, switch arm |23 is actuated and moves contact |25 into engagement with the fixed contact |21 of the switch. The contacts of switch |26 are connected to the winding |26 of an electro-magnet, vthe plunger |29 of which is connected to one end of a lever |30. 'I'he other end of lever |30 carries afspring pressed pawl |3| which engages a ratchet wheel |32.

Ratchet wheel |32 hasten teeth and during each rrevolution a contact arm |33 carried by it engages a contact |34 thereby closing a circuit on the rwinding |35 of an electro magnet, the plunger |36 of, which is connectedto vthe actuating arm of a suitable register |31.v Each time ten tickets pass between rollers 96 and 98, the register is movedfone notchthus counting the tickets in groups of ten. This arrangement for counting the tickets in groups of ten is utilized because of the diiculty in counting the tickets individually fdue to the rapidity with which successive tickets may pass between the rollers. kItis to be understood, however, that if, desired, the tickets may be counted in groups of ten, individually, or otherwise. If desired a suitabledial |32a may be connected directly to ratchet wheel |32 for indicating units, |32b being an indicating pointer.

M.Since guide roller and deflecting plate H2 .cooperate directly with roller 98 it is desirable that they move with it. Accordingly these parts iii) are arranged to be carried by bearing housing f H8.v To this end the strip ||3 is suitablyxed to housing ||8 andthe shaft of roller is |35, andthe two motors 46 and 15 are all con'- nected by circuit wires |39 to a suitable source of electrical energy |40. In connection with this circuit, I provide means whereby in case thebelt 58'breaks, the circuit is opened, thus stopping motors 46 ancl14, extinguishing lampv |38 and disconnecting solenoids |28 and |35 from the circuit. For this purpose, there is provided in one of the circuit wires |39 in advance of the several electricalV devices a switch` |4|, which may be of the vacuum type, having a fixed contact |42 and a movable contact |43. Contact |43 is biased to a position in contact with contact |42 kby a spring |43, Adjacent to theouter end of contact |43 is'an arm |44 connected to ythe arm 66 which supports roller 65. As long as `belt 58 ris in operative condition, roller 65 is held in a positionsuch that arm |44 is held from engagement with contact |43. In case belt 58 breaks, spring 68 will effect a turning movement of arm 66, moving arm |44 into engagement with contact |43 andthus causing it to move away from contact M2 to open the circuit. In circuit Mil is a suitable control switch |45. From a broad viewpoint, the line Hit-|39, the motor 5, and the blower l form a power agency for operating the means lor receiving, conveying and canceling tickets, whereas the switch |4I, together with the adjacent elements, represents in substance a means under the control of the belt, or responsive to the operation of the conveying and canceling means for rendering the power agency inoperative in case the conveying and canceling means rails.

The operation is as follows:

Normally circuit |3 is closed so that motors d@ and l5 are o erating. Motor 46 dives the mechanism t rough the gearing illustrated and the blower driven by motor l5 maintains a slight vacuum in sealed chamber l0. Belt 58 runs in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 6 and in passing around pulle E- serves to drive belt 8 in the saine direction. Belt l? runs in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 6. Rollers 53, S, 9S and Q8 run in the directions indicated by the arrows.

In case of a theatre, the machine is located at the entrance to the theatre, hopper 30 being toward the outside tray 32 being toward the inside of the theatre so that a patron entering the theatre walks past the machine from the hopper side to the tray side. In walking past the machine, a patron drops his ticket into the hopper t) at which time it can be viewed by the attendant. The ticket drops from hopper 39 down chute 33 on to trough 35. In striking the ilared wings and 39a or trough 55, the ticket tends to be turned longitudinally of the trough. Wings and coupled with the vibration of the trough, serve to turn the ticket, in case it requires turning, and to cause it to fall lengthwise on to sloping bottom 3l of 'the vibrating trough. From bottom 32', the ticket drops on to the endless conveyor be and is carried alone by it through the V-shaped space 8| and between rollers 5t and 65 into the V-shaped space The side walls i9 ci traveling belt i8 serve to hold the tickets straight on belt E8 and to turn any tickets which might find their way from trough 35 to the belt in an angular position relatively to the belt. In case an edge of a ticket projects over the outer edge of belts 58 and Il in passing between rollers 59 and 65, a thing which might occur if a ticket were bent angularly on itself before being dropped into the hopper, the projecting edge will be trimmed off by the circular rotating knife 83, From the V- shaped space 82, the ticket is picked up by belt 58 due to the suction in chamber l acting through the openings e9 in the belt and is car- 'l upward by the belt into the rollers 63 and From the rollers 53 and 84, the ticket is fed to the stripping and canceling rollers 56 and S8 and is cut into a plurality of pieces as described above, the one piece i beinfr discharged through opening 3| into tray and the other piece or pieces le? being discharged downward into receptacle i539. The patron picks up the piece of ticket from tray 32 which piece serves as his receipt for admission to the theatre. As the ticket passes between rollers 86 and 98, the registering mechanism is actuated by circuit closer 136, the ratchet wheel |32 being moved one notch.

In case several tickets are dropped into the hopper at the same time, all drop down on to vibrating trough 35 and from there are deposited on the traveling belt 48. They may be carried along with the traveling belt either one at a time r overlapping each other as happens to occur, and are carried through J-shaped space 8| between rcll rs 59 and 60 to the V-shaped space 82. V-shaped space 82 is of a size to accommodate a number ci tickets standing vertically on one end. F om this soace, the tickets are picked up one at a time by the vacuum in chamber 'l and through the canceling mechanism. This arrangement thus serves to feed the tickets through the canceling mechanism one at a time irrespective of whethe the tickets are dropped "ito the hop one at a time. With this arangement, therefore, each ticket is canceled and counted as it passes through the machine. Space 32 serves as a separating chamber. It is adapted to hold a number of tickets at a time, the tickets being then picked up one at a time and carried to the canceling mechanism.

In Fig. 7, I have shcwr a modified construction wherein the central portion of the ticket, after passing through the cancelin.Ov rollers |46 and it?, corresponding to the canceling rollers SE and 98 of Figs. l to 6, is directed between two suitable rollers |48 and i 1.9, which rollers may be formed ci rubber and which serve to discharge th central portion oi the ticket through opening into 32, rollers blt and MS being located directly adjacent to opening 3|. At |50 is a deiiecting finger corresponding to deiiecting ngers iid in 3, and at |5| is a deflecting plate corresponding to plate HU in Fig. 3. Otlferwise the structure may be the same subn ally as shown in Figs. l to 6.

l 8 is illustrated a modied construction for conveying tickets from the hopper to the canceling mechanism. In this arrangement i552 and L53 are rollers corresponding to rollers 5| and 52 of Figure l, and |54 is an endless belt corresponding to endless belt i8. modification the shaft of one of the rollers |52 or |53 is direct-driven from the motor. Located directly above belt 54 is a vibrating trough |55 corresponding to the vibrating trough of Figure l. It may be vibrated in a manner similar to trough 35. Directly adjacent to the leit hand end of belt 55d and spaced slightly above it are two rollers |55 and |57 on which is arranged an endless belt |58, the belt passing over an idler roller |59 carried by an arm |60. neet-ed to arm itt is a spring |5| which serves to hold idler |5t against belt |58 to keep it tight. With this arrangement, there is provided between rollers i and |57 a length of the belt |58 which is substantially parallel to the upper portion of belt |54. Located directly above the portion of belt |53 which is located between rollers |55 and i5? is a sealed casing |t2 having a pipe |63 connected to a suitable vacuum producing means such as that shown at i3 in Figure l. In sealed casing 62 is a longitudinally extending slot |64 over which belt 58 runs and which corresponds to the slot 'il in sealed casing 'le oi Figs. l and 6. In belt E58 are spaced openings 55 and in belt |54 are spaced openings iG. Adjacent to roller |56 is an idler roller |57. Beyond rollers |55 and |51 is the canceling and delivering mechanism |58. This mechanism may be similar to that shown in Fig. or it may be similar to the modified construction shown in Fig. 7. It is indicated generally by the reference numeral |68 and further description of it is believed to ce unnecessary, it operating after the manner of the constructions shown in Figs. l and 5. One of the rollers |55 In this L.

Con-

r tickets.

ymay be driven at a speed of the order of ve times greater than that of belt |54.y Extending along the sides of belts |54 and |58 are guide plates |69 and |18, the lower end of trough |55r being located between these plates. Guide plates |69 and |19 extend up to the rollers |56 and |61. With this arrangement, the thickets are delivered from vibrating trough |55 on to belt |54 and are aligned and carried up under the portion of belt 58 located between rollers |56; and |61.' The parallel portions of the' belts |54 and |58 and the adjacent elements form a separatingy chamber for the tickets. As the tickets` pass beneaththis portion of belt |58, the suction in sealed casing I 62 pickets the tickets up one at a time and belt |58, against which they are held by vthe suction, carries the tickets to krollers |56 and |61 between which they passand from which they are delivered `tothe cancel'- ing mechanism. 'Ihe openings |66 in belt .|54 servek to admit air to the under side of the tickets so theymay be readily lifted from the belt |54. On opposite "sides of belts |54 and |58 are guide plates |69 and |19 which are arranged angularly relatively to each other, being farther apart at their right hand ends than at their left hand ends. The purpose of these guide plates is to assistin straightening tickets on belts |54 vand |58. As the tickets simply lie on belt |54they are easily turned, and after being picked up by belt |58 they may still be easily-turned .to straighten them, .as the amount of suction required to hold the tickets against rbeltV |58. is not great. Since `belt |58 travels at a. speed higher. than belt |54, the tickets will be picked up one ata timebyv belt |58 even though the tickets overlap one another. Anyforeign'articles, such as metal pieces for example, will not be picked rup by belt |58 because of the small suction but `will be carriedalongover roller |52 and droppedV toa suitable receptacle. Thus the arrangementr serves to separate foreign objects from the In Fig. 9 is illustrated a modification of the invention similar to that shown in Fig. 8 except that there is provided for the tickets av separating chamber |1| formed by'walls IHa, corresponding to separating chamber 82 of Fig. 1. In this modification the tickets are delivered from the vibrating trough to an endless belt |12 similar to belt 48 of Fig. l, which runs on rollers |13. Belt |12 delivers the ticket to a belt |14 which runs on rollers |15, the arrangement of belt |14 being similar to that'of belt` |58 in Fig.-8, there being provided directly above the horizontal portion cf the belt a sealed chamber |16 having ay slot over which the belt runs and in which is maintained a slight Vacuum. Adjacent to belt |14 is an endless belt |11 which runs over rollers |11@y the rollers being arranged `to providek a vertically extending belt ,portionl |18 behind` which is located a sealed. suction chambery |19 similar rto sealed chamber |16. Belts |1 2, |14

and |11 are provided with spaced openings, as'

shown in Fig. 9, for the purposes` described irly connection with the other modications. The adjacent portions of belts |12 and |14 deflnea separating chamber. `With this arrangement, theftickets carried along by belt 4|12 arepicked therefrom by suction and are carried by belt |14 around roller |15 into the separating space |1|.'A

From here'Y the tickets are pickedup one'at a time bybelt |113fdue to the suction in sealedchamber |19l`and are carried vertically upward to rIce discharged between roller`|11a and an adjacent idling roller |80 4to' the canceling mechanism which -mechanism may be the' sameV as that shown in either Fig. '1 or Figp. With this arrangement foreign material such as metallic objects Which iind their way to belt |12 are carried along anddropped over roller |13, this being effected` because the lsuction in sealed casing |16 is insucient to liftk anobject heavier than a ticket. l

I In Fig. is shown a further modification of the invention wherein a travelling belt corresponding to the travelling belt y48 of Fig. 1 is omitted, the ticketsbeing discharged from the hopper directly rto a separating chamber similar to chamber 82 of Fig. 1 or |1| of Fig. 9. In this arrangement the tickets are delivered to a hopto bevvibrated by a. vibratory rod |85. For this purpose, an arrangement similalrto that utilized for vibrating trough 35 in Figs. 1 to 6 maybe utilized. The lower end of hopper |83 has an opening which is'substantially vertical and extending across thecpening is an endless belt |86 which runsover rollers |81 and |88, one of which is a driven roller. l Located behind the portion of belt |86 which extends across the opening of hopper |83 is a sealed casing |89 having a longif` tudinallyy extending slot |98 directly behind belt |86.v It is connected by a pipe |9| toa suitable means for maintaining a slight Vacuum in the casing. In belt |86 are spaced openings |92 which are in line with slot |90. At |93 and |94 are idler rollers. With this arrangement, it will be seen` that the lower wall of hopper |83 and the adjacent portion of belt |86 form a separating chamber |95 to which ticketsiare delivered by the hopper |83.A From separating chamber |95 the tickets Yare picked up one at a'time by thev suction in chamber |89 afterthe manner a1- ready described, andare discharged from between rollers |88 Landf|94 to the canceling and delivering mechanism which may be similar to that, disclosed in Figs. 1 to 6 or that disclosed in Fig. 8'. 'With this arrangement, there is a reverse actionV insofar as the movements Vof the tickets are concerned. That is to say, the"'tickets are moving downward -inA the separating- Lclri'amber |95 and are being moved upward bythe belt |86 from the separating chamber. This arrangement has the advantage that it assists injsep arating the tickets and insuring ythat they picked up one at a time by belt |86.

. What I claim as new'kand desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

are

' l. In a ticket canceling machine, the combi-y nation vof a hopper into which theV tickets to be canceled arey dropped, a tray accessible from thek outside of` the machine for receiving a portion of a canceled ticket and delivering it to the 'de-- outsidefof the machine for'deliveringa portion of each canceled ticket to the depositor, cancel-'vV ing mechanism, means including aniendless belt'A for conveying tickets from the hopper to the canceling mechanism, and means for conveying a portion of a canceled ticket from the canceling mechanism to the tray.

3. In a ticket canceling machine, the combination of a hopper into which the tickets to be canceled are dropped, a tray accessible from the outside oi the machine for delivering at least a portion of each canceled ticket to the depositor, canceling mechanism, means including a suction creating device for conveying tickets frein the hopper to the canceling mechanism, and means for conveying at least a portion of a canceled ticket from the canceling mechanism to the tray.

Zi. In a ticket canceling machine, the combination of a canceling mechanism, means forming a chamber for receiving tickets, and means for conveying tickets to be canceled one at a time from the chamber to the canceling mechanism.

5. In a ticket canceling machine, the combination oi a canceling mechanism, means forming a chamber for receiving tickets, and means including a suction creating device for conveying tickets to be canceled one at a time from the chamber to the canceling mechanism.

6. In a ticket canceling machine, the combination of a cancelingr mechanism which divides a ticket to be canceled into a plurality of parts, a tray accessible from the outside of the machine ior delivering at least a portion of each canceled ticket to the depositor, a receptacle, means for conveying tickets to be canceled to the canceling mechanism, and means for directing parts of a canceled ticket to said tray and receptacle.

7. In a ticket canceling machine, the combination of a canceling mechanism, a chamber, a traveling belt for conveying tickets to the chamber, a traveling belt for conveying tickets individually from the chamber to the canceling mechanism, and means for depositing tickets latwise on the first named belt.

8. In a ticket canceling machine, the combination of a canceling mechanism, a chamber, a traveling belt for conveying tickets to the chamber, a traveling belt for conveying tickets individually from the chamber to the canceling mechanism, and a vibrating trough for depositing tickets on the iirst named belt.

9. In a ticket canceling machine, the combination of a canceling mechanism comprising rollers between which tickets to be canceled are passed and means for feeding tickets to the canceling mechanism comprising an endless belt having openings therein spaced in direction of travel of the belt at distances longer than the length of a ticket, a vacuum casing having a slot over which the belt passes, and means for conveying tickets to the portion of the belt adjacent to said casing.

10. In a ticket canceling machine, the combination of a sealed casing having an elongated slot therein, means for maintaining a vacuum in the casing, a traveling belt which extends along the casing over said slot, said belt being provided with spaced openings, means for feeding tickets to the belt, and canceling mechanism located beyond the casing to which tickets are conveyed by said belt, the openings being spaced so that one ticket at a time is conveyed to the canceling mechanism.

Il. In a ticket canceling machine, the combination of a sealed casing having an elongated slot therein, means for maintaining a vacuum in the casing, a traveling belt Winch extends along the casing in front of said slot, said belt being provided with spaced openings, means forming a separating chamber in front of the portion of said belt which is in front of said slot, means including said belt for depositing tickets in said separating chamber, and canceling means to which the belt conveys tickets from the separating chamber.

l2. In a ticket canceling machine, the combination of a sealed casing having an elongated slot therein, means for maintaining a vacuum in the casing, a traveling belt which extends along the casing in front of said slot, said belt being provided with spaced openings, means forming a separating chamber in front of the portion of said belt which is in front of said slot, a hopper, a traveling belt for conveying tickets from the hopper to said separating chamber, and canceling means to which the belt conveys tickets from the separating chamber.

13. In a ticket canceling machine, the combination of a canceling means, means for feeding tickets to be canceled to the canceling means one at a time, a registering mechanism, and means actuated by movement of the canceling means for actuating the registering mechanism.

14. In a ticket canceling machine, the combination of canceling rolls between which tickets to be canceled pass, one of said rolls being pivotally mounted whereby it is moved away from the other roll by the passage of a ticket between the rolls, means for feeding tickets to the rolls one at a time, a registering mechanism, and means actuated by the relative movement of said rolls when a ticket passes between them for operating the registering mechanism.

15, In a ticket canceling machine, the combination of a hopper, a traveling belt, means for transferring tickets from the hopper to the belt and depositing them on the belt lengthwise thereof, canceling mechanism, means for transferring tickets from the traveling belt to the canceling mechanism, and means whereby, after a ticket is canceled, a portion is deposited outside the machine and a portion is retained in the machine.

16. In a ticket canceling machine, the combination of a casing having an admission opening for the reception of tickets and a discharge opening, a traveling belt, a vibrating trough for transferring tickets from the admission opening to the belt, canceling mechanism, means for transferring tickets from the traveling belt to the canceling mechanism, and means for delivering at least a portion of a ticket from the canceling mechanism through said discharge opening.

17. In a ticket canceling machine, the combination of a casing having an admission opening for the reception of tickets and a discharge opening, canceling mechanism, means for receiving tickets from the admission opening and delivering them individually to the canceling mechanism, means for delivering at least a portion of a canceled ticket through said discharge opening, and a tray adjacent the discharge opening and accessible from the outside of the machine.

18. In a ticket canceling machine, the combination of a casing having a hopper into which tickets are dropped and a tray accessible from the outside of the machine, ticket canceling means in the casing, an endless belt, means for depositing tickets lengthwise on the belt, means for picking tickets from the belt and transferring them to the canceling means, and means for Til delivering at least a portion of a canceled ticket from the cancelingmeans to said tray. y

- 19,. In a ticket canceling machine, the combination of ,a hopper for receiving tickets from a depositor, canceling mechanism, means for conveying the tickets from the hopper to the canceling mechanism, means for driving the cancel-v ing mechanism and the conveying means, and means responsive toan abnormal condition of ythe conveying means for automatically rendering the driving means inoperative.

20. In a ticket canceling machine, the combinationof means for receiving, conveying and individually canceling tickets, a power agency fory operating said means, and other means responsive to an abnormal condition of the first named means for rendering the power agency inoperative.

2i. In a ticket canceling machine, the combination of a hopper for receiving tickets to be canceled, canceling mechanism, an endless belt rhaving an inclined portion below the level of the y canceling mechanism for receiving tickets from the hopper and conveying them to the canceling mechanism, and a curtain of exible strips hanging down onto the belt ahead of the ticket receiving belt portion as regards the direction of belt movement, said curtain stopping tickets from sliding down 'the belt and permitting the passage of heavier objects thrown into the hopper.

22. In a `ticket canceling machine, the combination of a hopper for receiving tickets to` be canceled, an endless belt for receiving and conveying the tickets, canceling mechanism, another endless belt and a suction creating device for picking yup individual tickets from the rst named belt and carrying them to the canceling mechanism, and a tray accessible from the outside of the machine for receiving at least a portion of each canceled ticket.

23. In a ticket canceling machine, the combination of a. receiving means for tickets to be can- "celed, a horizontally arranged, perforated endless belt for receiving tickets from the receiving means, canceling mechanism, another perforated'endless belt having a horizontal portion above nationof a canceling mechanism, a chamber,

traveling belt means for conveying tickets to the chamber, means including traveling belt means kkfor conveying tickets individually from the chamber to the canceling mechanism, and means for depositing tickets flatwise and aligned on the first mentioned belt means.

26. In a ticket canceling machine, the combination of a canceling mechanism, a chamber, travelingbelt means for conveying tickets tothe chamber, means including traveling belt means for conveying tickets individually from the chamber to the canceling mechanism, means for depositing, tickets iiatwise and aligned on the first mentioned belt means, and means. for cutting off overhanging edges of the tickets on the first mentioned belt means.

27. In a ticket canceling machine, the combination of a canceling mechanism, a trough for receiving tickets to be canceled, means for vibrating the trough, a perforated endless traveling belt having a steeply inclined portion adjacent an opening of the trough, and' means for creating a suction in the direction from the interior of the trough through the belt perforations to cause individual tickets to be carried upward by said belt portion to the canceling mechanism.

28. In a ticket canceling machine, the combination of a canceling mechanism, means forming a chamber for receiving tickets, and means including a suction creating device for conveying tickets to be canceled rone at a time from the separating chamber to the canceling mechanism, the canceling mechanism comprising cutting means for cutting each ticket into a plurality of parallel strips.

' 29. In a ticket canceling machine, the combination of a hopper for receiving tickets to be canceled, a tray accessible from the outside of the machine for delivering a portion of each canf celed ticket to the depositor, canceling mechanism, means forming a separating chamber, means for conveying tickets from the hopper to the chamber and from the chamber to the canceling mechanism, the canceling mechanism comprising cutting means for cutting each ticket in at least three parallel strips and providing one of the strips with indentations, and means for delivering one of the strips to the tray.

30. In a ticket canceling machine, the combination of a receiver for tickets to be canceled, ticket conveying and canceling means for receiving tickets from the receiver and cutting out a. central portion from each ticket, a tray accessible from the outside of the machine, and a casing locked into the machine, said canceling mechanism including a device causing the central ticket portions being delivered into the exposed tray and the other ticket portions into the casing.

31. In a ticket canceling machine, the combination of a canceling mechanism, traveling belt means for feeding the tickets to be canceled to the mechanism, a power agency for operating the belt means, means for automatically rendering the power agency inoperative when the belt breaks, and a registering mechanism connected to the canceling mechanism for counting the canceled tickets.

32. In a ticket canceling machine, the combination of a hopper for receiving tickets to kbe canceled, a traveling belt, a motor for driving the belt, a vibrating trough between the hopper and the belt, a canceling mechanism, means including the belt for feeding the tickets to be canceled Yone at a time to the canceling mechanism, a tray accessible from the outside of the machine, a casing enclosed in the machine, means for directing a certain portion of each ticket into the tray 'and another portion into the casing, means under the control of the belt rendering the motor inoperative in response to an abnormal condition of the belt, and a register connected to the canceling mechanism for counting the tickets.

ARTHUR J. JOHNSTON.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,998,320. April 16, 1935.

ARTHUR J. JOHNSTON.

lt is hereby eertifiedvthat errer appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as fellows: Page 3, first column, line 20, for"shares" read shears; and line 53, for "plate" read plates; page 4, first column, line 42, for "58" read 48; and second column, lines 31 and 32, for "Fig. 3" read Fig. 4; and page 5, first colutnn, line 11, for "thickets" read tickets; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may eenform to the record ot the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of June, A. D. 1935.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFGATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. i,998,320. April 16, 1935.

ARTHUR J. JOHNSTON.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as foiiows: fage 3, first column, line 20, for"shares" read shears; and line 53, for "plate" read plates; page 4, first column, iine 42, for "5S" read 48; and second column, lines 31 and 32, for "Fign 3" read Fig. 4; and page 5, first column, line il, for "thickets" read tickets; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of June, A. D. 1935.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

